Tire spreader



w. G. PRENTICE Dec. 5, 1944.

TIRE SPREADER Filed Feb. 11, 1942 2 SheetS -Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WZLLZAM GfiP/YEZWYCE,

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Dec. 5, 1944. w. e. PRENTICEI T IRE S PREADER Filed Feb. 11, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WJLLZAMGTF/TEAUYCE,

ATTUITIYE )157 Patented Dec. 5, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIRE SPREADER William G. Prentice, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application February 11, 1942, Serial No. 430,427

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to a tire spreader or inspection machine, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a, machine of the character indicated which shall be extremely inexpensive to manufacture, and which shall yet be highly efficient for the purpose of spreading the beads of a tire casing (herein referred to as a tire) to facilitate inspection of the inner surface of the tire, and, when desired, bulging the side wall or tread portion of the tire inwardly, further to facilitate inspection and, in some instances, working upon the inner surface of the tire. Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, 'my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a machine cone structed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end elevation of the upper portion of the machine with a tire engaged therein;

Fig. 4 is a similar View, showing the tire canted to one side;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the upper portion of the machine with a tire engaged therein; and

7 is a similar view, showing the tire canted.

Many tire inspection machines of many kinds have been conceived, and a goodly number of them have actually gone into commercial use.

To my knowledge, however, all of such machines have been relatively complicated and quite expensive. It is a major intent of my invention to provide an extremely inexpensive, but very efiicient, machine to accomplish the functions of the expensive machines heretofore commercially known. One factor which contributes heavily to the low cost of my machine is the fact that it is built almost entirely of standard pipe sections and pipe fittings. Thus, the machine comprises a frame, indicated generally by the reference numeral l0, made up of four uprights, respectively indicated generally by the reference numerals H, l2, l3, and [4, connected at their upper ends by end bars I5 and I6 and side bars I! and l8.

The machine is asesmbled as follows: One end of the end bar I5 is threaded into a branch 33 of standard side outlet L-fitting 3|. A standard pipe section 69, having an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the bar l5, and preferably provided with conical end flanges 69' and 69", is then sleeved 0n the bar i5; whereafter the branch 62 of a standard side outlet L-fitting is threadedly engaged with the opposite end of the bar l5. Now, an end bar it is threadedly engaged with the branch 63 of the fitting 60. A spacer 15, comprising a short standard pipe section having an inside diameter slightl greater than the outside diameter of the bar [8, is sleeved on the bar I8, as is a standard four-way fitting 12, which is followed by a second short pipe section 16. The sections 15 and it obviously act as spacers to hold fitting 12 substantially at the mid-point of the bar [8.

Now, the branch 65 of a standard side outlet L-fitting 64 is threaded on the opposite end of the bar I8. A second end bar It has one end now threaded into the branch 66 of the fitting 64, a pipesection I0, preferably provided with conical end flanges 10' and 1B", is sleeved on the bar l6, and one branch 50 of a standard side outlet L-fitting 4! is threaded onto the opposite end of the bar it. One end of a side bar i1 is threadedly engaged with the branch 49 of the fitting 41, and a fitting ll, similar to fitting l2, spaced from the ends of the bar I! by spacer sections 13 and I4, is mounted upon the bar H. The branch 34 of the fitting 3| is reamed out, and the opposite end of the side bar I! is slidably received in said branch 34, being secured in place by a cotter pin 25.

This assembly obviously produces a rigid top frame. Each of the fittings El, 41, 6!], and 64 is provided with a branch having its axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the branches in which are secured the end bars and side bars l5, l6, l1, and I8; and each of those branches receives an end of one of the uprights ll, l2, I3, and i4. Thus, the upright H comprises a standard pipe section 211 the upper end of which is threadedly received in the branch 32 of the fitting 3l. Similarly, the upright l2 comprises a similar standard pipe section 46, the upper end of which is threadedly received in the branch 58 of the fitting 4?; the upright !3 comprises a similar pipe section having its upper end threadedly received in the corresponding branch of the fitting 64; and the upright l4 comprises a similar pipe section 59 having its upper end threadedly received in the branch 6| of the fitting 60. A foot piece I9 is adjustably threadedly secured to the lower end of the pipe section 20 to compensate for any slight differences between the effective length of the upright II and the effective lengths of the other uprights, while the uprights I2 and I4 are similarly provided with foot pieces 35 and 53 respectively, and the upright I3 is provided with a similar foot piece (not shown) A bracing assembly similar to the top frame above described is associated with the uprights II, I2, I3, and I4 intermediate their ends. Thus, a standard four-way fitting 26, comprising two aligned branches 21 and 28 and two other branches 29 and 61 perpendicular to each other and to said aligned branches, is sleeved upon the upright I I, and is secured thereto by a cotter pin 36. One end of a cross bar 52 is threadedly secured in the branch 29 of said fitting 26, while the other end of said bar 52 is threadedly received in a corresponding branch 45 of a similar fitting 42 sleeved on the upright I2 and secured thereto by a cotter pin 4|. A similar cross bar 68 has one end threadedly received in the branch 61 of the fitting 26, and its other end threadedly received in the corresponding branch 58 of a similar fitting 55, sleeved on the upright I4. A bar (not shown) corresponding to and parallel with the bar 08 extends between the other branch of the fitting 42 and the corresponding branch of a similar fitting (not shown) sleeved on the upright I3; and a bar (not shown) corresponding to and parallel with the bar 52 extends between said last-mentioned fitting and the fitting 55. the fitting 55 and the corresponding fitting (not shown) to the uprights I4 and I3, respectively.

A standard T-fitting 2| is sleeved on the upright I I below the fitting. 26, and is secured thereto by a cotter pin 23. A similar fitting 31 is sleeved on the upright I2 and is secured thereto by a cotter pin 39. A bar is threadedly engaged in, and extends between, the branches 24 and 40 of the fittings 2| and 31, respectively; and a T-fitting I24 is cscillably mounted upon the bar 5|, (by which I mean that the T-fitting is capable of oscillation with respect to the bar) being held against axial movement with respect thereto by cotter pins 22 and 38.

It will be seen that a very rigid frame is thus built up of standard plumbing elements; and that the pipe sections 69 and 10 act as rollers to support a tire upon the machine, and to facilitate rotation of the tire about its intended axis of rotation.

The fitting 1| is formed with a branch 11 perpendicular to the axis of the side bar I1, and a pipe section 18 has one end threadedly received in said branch 11. Telescopically received within the pipe section 18 is a smaller pipe section 19 threadedly supporting, at its outer end, the stem 80 of a T-fitting 8|. A hook element, comprising a body section 82 and suitably bent arms or hook fingers 83 and 84 at its opposite ends, is received. in the arms of the fitting 8|, and it will be obvious that said hook means is rotatable about the axis of its body portion 82. Cotter pins 82', 82' are projected through the body section 82 of the hook means to hold the same against axial movement with respect to the fitting 8I.

The fitting 1! is formed with a further branch 85, perpendicular to the axis of the side bar I1 and to the branch 11, and one end of a standard reducer elbow fitting 86 is threadedly received in I have found it unnecessary to pin said branch 85. The opposite end of said reducer elbow 86 threadedly receives one end of a short pipe section 81, the opposite end of which is threadedly received in one end 88 of a reducer T-fitting 89, the aligned end of which threadedly receives one end of a standard pipe section 9| which threadedly carries at its opposite end a bifurcated cap fitting 92. T 89 threadedly receives one end of a standard pipe section 94 the opposite end of which threadedly carries one end of a reducer elbow 95, the opposite end of which threadedly receives a cap 96. The unit comprising the element 94, 95, 96, may be referred to as a bulger finger, which, in use, will operate to bulge either the side wall or the tread portion of th tire inwardly.

Similarly, the fitting 12 includes a branch 91 perpendicular to the axis of the side bar I8, and threadedly receiving one end of a pipe section 99 in which is telescopically mounted a pipe section 99 threadedly receiving, on its outer end, the stem I00 of a T fitting IOI. A hook means, comprising a body section I02 and bent hooked end portions I03 and I04, is oscillably received in the arms of the T fitting NH, and is in all particulars similar to, but allochirally mounted with respect to, the hook means 82, 83, 84.

The fitting 12 is likewise provided with a branch I05 perpendicular to the body portion of the fitting and to the branch 91, and receiving one end of a reducer elbow I96, the opposite end of which threadedly receives one end of a short pipe section I01 which threadedly carries at its opposite end one end I08 of a reducer T fitting I09. The aligned branch I I0 of said T fitting threadedly receives one end of a pipe section II I which threadedly carries at its opposite end a bifurcated cap II2 similar to the element 92. The stem II3 of the fitting I09 threadedly receives one end of a pipe section II4, the opposite end of which threadedly carries one end of a reducer elbow I I5 upon the opposite end of which is threadedly mounted a cap H6. The unit I I4, H5, H6 is similar to, but allochirally mounted with respect to, the unit 9 95, 96.

A pin II1 passes between the furcations of the element 92 and forms a pivotal mounting for one end II8 of a long link II9. Similarly, a pin I20 passes between the furcations of the element H2 and forms a pivotal mounting for the corresponding end I2I of a second long link I22. The links H9 and I22 are pivoted together at I23.-

The stem I25 of the T-fitting I24 threadedly receives one end of a pipe section I26 which carries at its opposite end a cap I21. Thisv unit comprises an operating lever. A short link I28 has one end pivoted at I29 upon the lever I26 intermediate the ends thereof; and the end I30 of the link H9 is pivoted, at I3I, intermediate the ends of the link I28. A short link I32 likewise has one end pivoted at I29 upon the lever I26, and the end I33 of the link I22 is pivoted at I34 intermediate the ends of the link I32. The end I35 of the link I28 is connected, by a spring I36, to a point I31 on the link I22 between the pivot I20 and the pivot I23; while the end I38 of the link I32 is connected by a spring I39 with a point I40 on the link II9 between the pivot II1 and the pivot I23.

At I4I, a latch bar I42 is pivotall secured to the link I22; and said bar I42 is formed with a plurality of teeth I43, I44, and I45 selectively engageable with a pin I 46 carried by the link I I9, the bar I42 being guided for cooperation with said The stem 93 of the pin I46 between the link H9 and a strap I41 secured thereto.

It will be seen that the springs I36 and I39 normally hold the parts in the positions illustrated in Fig. 1. It will further be seen that the links II9, I22, I28, and I32 comprise a lazy tongs unit; and that counterclockwise movement of the lever I26 will produce movement of the ends H8 and I2I of the links II9 and I22 toward each other to swing the fittings II and I2 simultaneously and oppositely about the axes of the side bars I? and I8 to move the hook units 82 and I92 away from each other. a

When the machine is to be put into use, the hook units 82 and I02 are swung in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction, respectively, out of the positions of Fig. 1 to clear the space between the fittings 80 and I00. A tire is then set upon the rollers 69 and 'II) in a vertical plane, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6. The hook units 82 and IE2 may now be swung inwardly about the axes of the arms 8| and IUI, whereby the hooks 83 and 84 and the hooks I93 and I04 will engage within the bead portions I5I and I52 of the tire wall portions I49 and I 50', respectively. It will be seen that the machine is readily adaptable to tires of different dimensions, since the fittings 80 and IDI may be variously positioned with respect to the bars I! and I8 because of the telescopic association of the pipes I9 and 99 with the pipes I8 and 98.

If the lever I26 is now depressed sufficientl to engage the tooth I43 of the bar I42 with the pin I46, the beads I5I and I52 will be somewhat separated, but the caps 96 and I IE will not be brought quite into contact with the tread I53 of the tire I48. In this position of the machine, the interior of the tire may be seen fairly well, but the engagement of the hooks 83, 84, I03, and I04 with the tire is sufficiently light to permit the tire to be rotated about its axis of intended rotation, without releasing the hooks from the tire beads. Of course, such rotation of the tire is facilitated by the presence of the rollers 69 and I9.

Further depression of the lever I26 will further spread the beads I5I and I52, and will cause the caps 96 and IIS to engage the tread I53 of the tire and to bulge that tread upwardly and inwardly to increase the facility of the operators view of the interior surface of the tire. plete depression of the lever I26 will bring the parts into the positions illustrated in 3, wherein the whole interior surface of the tire is fully exposed to view, and such surface is exposed for work to be done thereon.

A very important feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the illustrated construction permits rocking of the tire about an axis lying within the general plane of the tire; and that rocking may be effected while the tire is engaged by the hook means. Thus, with the parts in the position of Fig. 3, it is possible to rock the tire into the position of Figs, 4 and '7. This operation is made possible by the telescopic association of the hook carriers with the pipes I8 and 98. Thus, as the tire is rocked in a clockwise direction from the position of Fig. 3 to the position of Fig. 4, the pipe section I9 will settle more deeply into the pipe section 18, while the pipe section 99 is drawn farther out of the pipe section 98. Now further depression of the lever I25 'will bring one or both of the bulger finger caps 96 and H6 into engagement with the tire in such a fashion as to bulge the tire side wall inwardly in the manner illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7, This Comcapacity of the machine materially aids the operator in working upon a break in the side wall of th tire, and is an extremely important feature of the present construction, which is believed to be entirely novel.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tire inspection machine comprising means for supporting a tire, a fulcrum carried by said supporting means on each side of, and substantially parallel with, the median plane of said tire perpendicular to the axis of intended rotation of said tire, a carrier oscillably mounted on each of said fulcra, and including an element axially perpendicular to the associated fulcrum, a member axially slidably carried by each of said elements, a hook element carried by each of said members for independent oscillation upon an axis substantially parallel with its associated fulcrum and engageable with the bead portion of a wall of such tire, and means for oscillating said carriers to force said hook means away from each other. e

2. A tire inspection machine comprising a frame including four uprights joined by end bars and side bars, rollers freely rotatably mounted on said end bars for supporting a tire, a tubular carrieroscillably mounted on each of said side bars and including a perpendicularly projecting element, a member axially slidably mounted on each of said elements, hook means carried by each of said members, said hook means being mounted for oscillation upon an axis substantially parallel with said side bars and being respectively engageable with the bead portions of the adjacent side walls of such tire, and operating means mounted on said frame and operatively connected with said carriers to oscillate said carriers simultaneously in opposite directions.

3. A tire inspection machine comprising a frame including four uprights joined by end bars and side bars, rollers freely rotatably mounted on said end bars for supporting a tire, a tube oscillably mounted on each of said side bars, an arm projecting generally upwardly from each of said tubes, hook means carried by each of said arms and engageable with thebead portion of the adjacent wall of such tire, a second'arm projecting from each of said tubes and angularly related to the first arm of its associated tube, a lever pivotally mounted on said frame, means operatively connecting said lever with the second arm of each tube to shift said tubes in opposite directions in response to swinging movement of said lever, and means operatively associated with said lever and shiftable, in response to hook-separating movement of said lever, to engage and bulge inwardly a portion of the tread of such tire.

4. A tire inspection machine comprising a frame including four uprights joined by end bars and side bars, rollers freely rotatably mounted on said end bars for supporting a tire, a tube oscillably mounted on each of said'side bars, an arm projecting generally upwardly from each of said tubes, hook means carried by each of said arms and engageable with the head portion of the adjacent wall of such tire, a second arm projecting from each of said tubes and angularly related to the first arm of its associated tube, a lever pivotally mounted on said frame, means operatively connecting said lever with the second arm of each tube to shift said tubes in opposite directions in response to swinging movement of said lever, and a finger operatively associated with each of said tubesand engageable, at times, with the tread of such tire to bulge the same inwardly.

5. A tire inspection machine comprising a frame including four uprights joined by end bars and side bars, rollers freely rotatably mounted on said end bars for supporting a tire, a tube oscillably mounted on each of said side bars, an arm projecting generally upwardly from each of said tubes, hook means carried by each of said arms and engageable with the bead portion of the adjacent wall of such tire, a second arm projecting from each of said tubes and angularly related to the first arm of its associated tube, a lever pivotally mounted on said frame, means operatively connecting said lever with the second arm of eachtube whereby movement of said lever in one direction shifts both tubes to move said hook means apart, thereby spreading the engaged walls of said tire, and a finger operatively associated with each of said tubes and moved, by such movement of said lever, to engage the tread of such tire between the wall portions engaged by such hooks, to bulge such tread portion inwardly.

6. A ti-re inspection machine comprising a plurality of uprights, a pair'of end members joining certain of said uprights, a pair of side members joining certain of said uprights, at least the midportions of said side members being cylindrical, a pipe fitting having two angularly related lateral branches oscillably sleeved on the cylindrical portion of each of said side members, a cylindrical element secured to one of said branches of each of said fittings, a member telescopically associated with each of said elements and carrying hook means engageable with the bead portion of the adjacent wall of a tire supported on said end members, lever means connected to the other branch of each of said fittings, a finger projecting laterally inwardly from each of said lever means at a level below said end members and terminating in an upturned end disposed adjacent the tread of such tire, a link pivotally connected to each of such lever means, said two links being crossed and pivoted together, a lever pivoted on said frame, a pair of links pivoted on said lever and pivoted respectively to said first-mentioned links, and spring means connecting said lastmentioned links with said first-mentioned links.

7. A tire inspection machine comprising a plurality of uprights, a pair of end members joining certain of said uprights, a pair of side members joining certain of said uprights, at least the midportions of said side members being cylindrical, a pipe fitting having two angularly related lateral branches oscillably sleeved on the cylindrical portion of each of said side members, a cylindrical element secured to one of said branches of each of said fittings, a member telescopically associated with each of said elements and carrying hook means engageable with the bead portion of the adjacent wall of a tire supported on said end members, lever means connected to the other branch of each of said fittings, a finger projecting laterally inwardly from each of said lever means at a level below said end members and terminating in an upturned end disposed adjacent the tread of such tire, a first link pivoted to one of said lever means, a second link pivoted to the other of said lever means, means pivotally connecting said first and second links together intermediate their ends, a lever pivoted on said frame, a third link pivoted at one end on said lever and pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said first link, a fourth link pivoted at one end on said lever at the point of pivotal connection of said third link thereto and pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said second link, spring means connecting the other end of said third link with said second link, and spring means connecting the other end of said, fourth link with said first link.

8. A tire inspection machine comprising a plurality of uprights, a pair of end members joining certain of said uprights, a pair of side members joining certain of said uprights, at least the midportions of said side members being cylindrical, a pipe fitting having two angularly related lateral branches oscillably sleeved on the cylindrical portion of each of said side members, a cylindrical element secured t one of said branches of each of said fittingsfa member telescopically associated with each of said elements and carrying hook means engageable with the bead portion of the adjacent wall of a tire supported on said end members, lever means connected to the other branch of each of said fittings, a finger projecting laterally inwardly from each of said lever means at a level "below said end'members and terminating in an upturned end disposed adjacent the tread of such tire, a first link pivoted to one of said lever means, a second link pivoted to the other of said lever means, means pivotally connecting said first and second links together intermediate their ends, a lever pivoted on said frame, a third link pivoted at one end on said lever and pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said first link, a fourth link pivoted at one end on said lever at the point of pivotal connection of said third link thereto and pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said second link, spring means connecting the other end of said third link with said second link at a point between the pivotal connection of said second link with said lever means and the point of pivotal connection of said second link with said first link, and spring means connecting the other end of said fourth link with said first link at a point between the pivotal connection of said first link with said lever means and the point of pivotal connection of said first link with said second link.

9. A tire inspection machine comprising a plurality of uprights, a pair of end members joining certain of said uprights, a pair of side members joining certainof said uprights, at least the midportions of said side members being cylindrical, a pipe fitting having two angularly related lateral branches oscillably sleeved on the cylindrical portion of each of said side members, a cylindrical element secured to one of said branches of each of said fittings, a member telescopically associated with each of said elements and carrying hook means engageable with the bead portion of the adjacent wall of a tire supported on said end members, lever means connected to the other branch of each of said fittings, a finger projecting laterally inwardly from each of said lever means at a level below said end members and terminating in an upturned end disposed adjacent the tread of such tire, a link pivotally connected to each of such lever means, said two links being crossed and pivoted together, a lever pivoted on said frame, a pair. of linkspivoted on said lever and pivoted respectively to said first-mentioned links, spring means connecting said last-mentioned links with said first-mentioned links, and a latch bar pivotally mounted on one of said links and cooperable with means on another of said links to hold said pipe fittings in any one of a plurality of positions of adjustment.

10. A tire inspection machine comprising means for supporting a tire, a fulcrum carried by said supporting means on each side of, and submember axially slidably carried by each of said elements, a hook element carried by each of said members for independent oscillation upon an axis substantially parallel with its associated fulcrum and engageable with the bead portion of a wall of such tire, means for oscillating said carriers to force said hook means away from each other,

7 and means operated by said last-named means,

upon separating said hook means, to engage the tread of said tire and bulge the same inwardly. WILLIAM G. PRENTICE. 

